Hot-water heating system



2 SHEETSSHEET l L. H. GILLICK ET AL HOT-WATER HEATING SYSTEM- Feb. 24,1953 Filed Oct. 17, 1950 Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Lchane, North Riverside Ill assignors to Vapor HeatingCorporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofv Delaware ApplicationOctober 1'7, 1950, Serial No. 190,606

7' Glaims. 1

This invention relates to heating systems and more particularly to a hotliquid heating system suitable for use in heating railway cars or othersimilar enclosures where the demand for heat varies from time to time atdifferent locations in the enclosure.

The present system is designed especially for use in railway cars suchas ofiice cars or private cars which may be disconnected from the trainfor long periods of time. Such cars are ordinarily provided withindividual heating systems. The present invention is directed toimprovements in heating systems for this general class of car and hasfor its principal object to simplify such systems, whereby the effectivearea of radiation may be varied at different locations within the car tocompensate for variations in the heat demand or to compensate forvariations in the eiliciency or heat output of the heating plant.

Specifically, the invention includes an intermittentl'y operated heatingunit adapted tomaintain the water of the circulating system between afixed temperature range. Consequently when the water is near the lowerlimits of its temperature range, the required efliciency of the heatingplant may be augmented by increasing the effective area of radiation,particularly in the cooler regions of the car, such as the end portionsor the side shaded from the" sun. There are many other conditions whichtend toaffect the interior temperature" of the car. For example, it isknown that the side of the car to the lee of a cross-wind may be warmerthan the opposite side. It is also known that the side of the carexposed to the sun's: rays may be warmer than the opposite side, andthat the ends of the car near the doors are somewhat cooler than themiddle.

It is another object of the invention, therefore, to maintain thetemperature of the car at a uniform level irrespective of the variationsin the heating load which may result from weather conditions andirrespective of the variations in the temperature of the circulatingnied-ium of the system.

According to the present invention an intermittently operated heater isemployed to heat a fluid in heat exchange relationship with theconventional floor radiators of a railway car and with an overhead heatradiator and blower. The blower may be operated constantly to force airthrough the overhead heater and through an overhead duct into the car-A, pump is employed to move the fluid through floor and overheadradiators, and thermostatic controls are provided for the control of theintermittently operated heater according to the temperature of the fluidand the average temperature within the enclosed space. Additionalthermostats are provided for the control of auxiliary radiators adaptedto augment the radiation area by circulating heating fluid in a shuntheating circuit with respect to the main floor radiators. Theseauxiliary radiators may be located in areas requiring a temperaturedifferent from the rest of the car, such as a washroom or other area.The auxiliary radiators may preferably be operated independently of eachother and are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the car or at acool end thereof so as to supplement the heat output.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparentfrom a study of the within specification taken with the drawings whichtogether illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and what isnow considered to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof.However, the invention contemplates all other embodiments of theinvention as may fall within the purview and scope of the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section view taken through a railwaycar on a vertical plane spaced a small distance from the side of thecar, showing the improvements according to the present inventionembodied therein;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken through the car ofFigure 1 along a plane 2.-'-2 and looking in the direction of thearrows;

Figure 3- is a circuit diagram showing a control eircuitfor the improvedheating system of Figures i and 2; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a flow device for insuringcirculation through the auxiliary radiators of the heating system shownin Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2 01 the drawings, there isshown a railway car body H] which is constructed to have a main sectionH. A vestibule i2 is located at one end of the car and an entrance isafforded to the section It by a vestibule door 13. A passageway Itconnects the other end of the passenger compartment" H with, an exitdoor It to other cars with which the car It may be connected.

The enclosed space i i is heated by an intermittentl'y operated. hotwater heater I! which is. positioned in a. compartment l5 adjacent thepassageway l4 and to one side thereof. The

heater I! is connected in a piping system I8 to supply heat to anoverhead radiator I9. The overhead heater I9 is first in line relativeto the heater I 1 so as to receive the heating medium of highertemperature and is connected by a pipe 2| leading therefrom in serieswith a fin tube floor radiator 22 which runs the length of the enclosedspace H along one side thereof and receives the partially cooled heatingmedium from the overhead radiator I9. The floor radiator 22 is connectedto a floor radiator 23 extending along the other side of the enclosedspace I! by an under-floor pipe 24, circulation through the overheadheater I9, the floor radiators 22 and 23 being maintained by a motor andpump unit 26 which returns the fluid to the heater I! by a return pipe21.

The floor radiator 22 is connected in parallel with an axially radiator28, the flow through the auxiliary radiator 28 being controlled by asolenoid actuated valve 29 which is controlled by a thermostat 3|. Theopposite floor radiator 23 is likewise provided with an auxiliaryradiator 32 which is under control of a solenoid actuated valve 33controlled in its operation by a thermostat 34.

Flow is assisted in each of the auxiliary radiators 28 and 32 upon theoperation of their respective solenoid actuated valves 29 and 33 by aVenturi-type flow device 34 as seen more or less schematically in Figure4, which illustrates the mode of connection of the auxiliary radiator 32with the floor radiator 23. The flow device 34 is connected by a lengthof pipe or tubing 36 to one end of the auxiliary radiator 32, andconsists of a length of tubing 31 fitted into the main radiator 23. Thetubing 31 is formed onthe interior with converging walls 38 and thereturn pipe 36 from the auxiliary radiator 32 is connected to the tubing31 at a point where the walls 38 begin to converge. As seen in Figure 4,the arrows indicate the direction of flow in the floor radiators 23 andthe direction of flow through the flow device 31. The construction inthe fluid stream afforded by the convergence of the walls 38 results indecreased pressure at a point where the tube 36 is connected to the tube31 thereby inducing flow in the auxiliary radiator 32 upon opening ofthe solenoid valve 33. The auxiliary radiator 28 is likewise providedwith a flow-inducing device of the same structure as shown in Figure 4and is connected in the return end of the auxiliary radiator 28.

Overhead heat is provided for the enclosed space H by an overhead duct4| having openings 42 on the underside 40 thereof. A motor operatedblower 43 is positioned to force air through the heater I9 and cause theair to pass into the enclosure I. The air, or at least a portionthereof, is drawn from the enclosure into the overhead duct 4| past areturn air grill 44 mounted in a bulkhead 46 separating the heatercompartment I from the passageway compartment II and an overhead grill41 in the underside 46 of the return duct 4|.

As seen in Figure 3, the overhead blower 43 and the circulating pump 26are connected across a supply line consisting of a positive lead 48 anda negative lead 49, the flow of current therein being under the controlof a main switch 5|. As seen in Figure 3, the overhead blower 43 isconnected in a lead 52 across the supply leads 48 and 49, and the motordriven circulating pump 26 is connected in a lead 53 across the supplyleads 48 and 49. It should be noted that the overhead blower 43 and thecirculating pump for the water supplied to the overhead heater I 9 andthe floor radiators 22 and 23 are adapted to operate constantly as longas the condition of the ambient is such as to require heat within theenclosure II and as long as the switch 5| is closed.

The heater II is provided with a burner 54 which is supplied with fueloil by a supply pipe 56, the flow of fuel in the pipe 56 beingcontrolled by a solenoid actuated valve 51. The burner 54 is providedwith a blower 58 which supplies a suitable volume of air to the fuelwhich is ignited by a sparking plug 59. Exhaust gases from the burner 54are led therefrom by an exhaust flue 6| which is connected to an exhauststack, not shown. A motor 62 is connected by a belt 63 to drive theblower 58, which is connected by a drive belt 64 to drive a rotaryconverter 66 for supplying current to a transformer 61 to furnish a hightension spark to the sparking plug 59.

As seen in Figure 3, the operation of the heater I! is controlled by amaster thermostat I0 which is positioned in the return end of theoverhead duct 4|. It will be seen that the master thermostat I0 beingarranged in the return duct, measures the average temperature within theenclosure II. A relay II is provided with a winding I2 connected in alead I3 across the supply leads 48 and 49 and in series with bufferresistors I4 and I6. The relay II is provided with a contact 11connected in a lead I8 and in series with the winding of the solenoidoperated fuel valve 51 across the supply leads 48 and 49. The relay IIhas an additional contact I9 connected in a lead 8| branching from thelead I8. As seen in Figure 3, the heater blower motor 62 is connected inthe lead BI and with the contact I9 across the supply leads 48 and 49.

The solenoid operated fuel valve 51 and the heater blower motor 62 areadditionally under the control of a temperature responsive switch orAquastat 82 positioned to measure the temperature of the liquid in thepipe I8, see Figure 1. As seen in Figure 3, the switch 82 is adapted toopen with a snap action when the temperature of the circulating liquidreaches 180 and to close with a snap action when the temperature of thecirculating liquid has dropped to The master thermostat I8 is connectedto short circuit winding I2 of the relay II, and consists of a mercurycolumn 83 which is adapted to close said short circuit, which consistsof a lead 84 branching from the lead I2, a contact point 86 on thethermostat 83, the length of the mercury column between the contactpoint 86 and a lower contact point 81 thereon, the short circuit beingcompleted by a lead 88 and lead I3 to the other side of the supply line.The thermostat I8 is so designed that when the average temperature inthe car as measured by the temperature in the return air attains atemperature of 72, for example, a short circuit, just described, is madethereby deenergizing the winding I2 of the relay It will thus be notedthat if the temperature of the water is 160 or less, and if thetemperature in the return end of the duct 4| is less than 72, thecircuits will be completed to operate the solenoid actuated fuel valves51 to supply fuel to the burner 54, and to operate the heater blowermotor 62 so that the blower 58 can supply combustion air to the burner54. If, however, the temperature in the line I8 of the hot liquid systemshould reach the heater blower motor 62 and the solenoid actuated fuelvalve 5! will be deenergized to interrupt the operation of the burner54. It will also be seen that if the temperature in the recirculatedair, as determined by thermostat it, should rise to above a desiredvalue, the winding E2 of the relay II will be deenergized by the shortcircuit attained through the thermostat It, thereby opening the contactsTI and I9 to deenergize the solenoid actuated fuel valve 5? and theheater blower motor 62.

The thermostat "I3 is, of the cycling type and is so constructed as tobe furnished with a desired amount of heat, which in the case at hand isof the order of two degrees, to raise the mercury column 83 in thethermostat Ill and cause the short circuit as has been previouslydescribed. The relay II is provided with a contact 82 which is connectedin a line QI which is in series with a limiting resistor 92 and a heatercoil 93 of the thermostat Til, the circuit being completed by a lead 94to the other side of the supply line.

When the winding I2 of the relay lI i energized as would be occasionedby the temperature in the return end of the overhead duct falling belowa desired value, which in the instant case is 72,

the closing of the contact 3% on the relay II will cause two degrees ofheat to be placed on the thermostat Ill to raise the mercury column 83.If said two degrees of heat is sufhcient to cause the mercury column toclose on the contact 86,

the short circuit will once more be made thereby deenergizing thewinding I2 of the relay II and opening circuits to the solenoid actuatedfuel valve 5'! and the heater blower motor 62.

It will thus be seen from the description thus far that the heater H isoperated only when the average temperature in the car has fallen below adesired minimum and when the temperature of the circulating liquid ofthe heating system is below a maximum value.

The auxiliary radiators 2? and 32 are under the control, as has beenexplained, of auxiliary thermostats 3i and 3 1. The auxiliary radiatorsin the embodiment of the invention as shown herein are intended to heatan end portion of the car, the end portion tending to be cooler than theother portions of the car. The auxiliary radiators 28 and 22 are thusconnected to overcome the tendency of the end of the car to becomecooler than the other portion of the car. However, it is contemplatedthat the auxiliary radiators 23 and 32 may be of a suitable length notonly to correct the cooling tendency of an end portion of the car, butat the same time to correct the tendency of one side of the car to becooler than the other, as would be occasioned by the movement and theservice conditions hereinabove mentioned.

As seen in Figure 3, a relay 96 having a winding 91 is connected acrossthe supply leads 48 and 49 and in series with a lead 98 having bufierresistors 92 connected in series therein. The relay 96 includes acontact Ifil which is connected in a lead I02 containing the winding ofthe solenoid actuated valve 29 and is adapted to close a circuit throughthe solenoid actuated valve 29 when the temperature at the forward endof the car on the side where the auxiliary radiator 28 is located isbelow a desired value, which for pur poses of explanation herein may betaken as a temperature below 72. With the temperature at said positionbelow the value justmentioned, the winding of the solenoid actuatedvalve 29 will be energized to cause the valve to open and the hot waterto move through the auxiliary radiator 28, andv past a flow device asshown in Figure 4, tobe returned to the system at the juncture of theauxiliary radiator 28 with the cross line 24.

The relay 96 is provided with a contact I03 connected in a line I04having connected therein a limiting resistor I06 and a heater coil I01,the circuit being completed to the other side of the supply line by alead I818. The relay 96 which is energized when the temperature i belowthe desired value thus closes a circuit to the heater coil I02 causingthe mercury column therein to rise in a manner similar as with thethermostat ID to cause a short circuit to be made to deenergize winding91 of the relay 96, said short circuit includes a lead I09 branchingfrom the lead 98, the length of the mercury column betwee a contactpoint III and a contact point II2, the short circuit being completed bya lead I I3 to the lead 98v to the other side of the upply line. Whenthe short circuit, just described, has been made, the contacts WI andI03 will open, the opening of contact IIlI thereby deenergizing thesolenoid winding of the solenoid actuated valve 29, the opening of thecontact I63 thereupon removing heat from the heater coil I97, causingthe mercury column to open the circuit at the contact III. It will beapparent that when the, circuit is broken at the contact ill, the relay96 will recycle to repeat the operation just described. Obviously, ifthe addition of two degrees of heat to the heater coil I0! isinsufficient to cause the mercury column to close at the contact III,the relay will remain in energized condition so that the hot water willmove through the auxiliary radiator 28.

The operation of the auxiliary radiator 32 is affected by theenergization of the solenoid actuated valve 33, which is adapted to beenergized when a contact N4 of a control relay H6 is closed when thewinding II'I thereof is energized. The winding II! is in series withbuffer resistors II8 and H9 and is connected across the supply lead 48and 49 by a lead I2I. The winding II! and the relay IIEi remain inenergized condition as long as the temperature affecting the thermostat34 is below a desired value, and the energization of the winding II'Icloses a circuit through the contact I I4 and the winding of thesolenoid actuated valve 33 which are connected in series with a lead I22acrossthe supply leads 48 and 49.

When the temperature adjacent the thermostat 34 rises to somepredetermined value, a short circuit is made deenergizing the windingII! of the relay H6, and includes a lead I23 branching from the leadI2I, the length of the mercury column between contact points I24 and I26and a lead I2! connected to the lead I2I to the other side of the supplyline. When the mercury column rises to close on the contact I24, thewinding I I! will be deenergized and the contact I I4 will be opened todeenergize the winding of the solenoid actuated valve 33. The thermostat34 is adapted to be cycled by a contact I 28 of the relay Ila which isconnected in series with a lead I29, a buffer resistor I3I, a heatercoil I32 of the relay 34 and a lead I33 to the other side of the supplyline. It will be apparent that when the relay I I5 is energized,approximately two degrees of heat will be given to the thermostat 34,and if said amount of heat is sufficient to cause the mercury column toclose on the contact I24, the short circuit will once more be made todeenergize the winding I I 7., As with the thermostat 3 I, the cyclingoperation will be repeated unless the temperature at the forward end ofthe car adjacent the auxiliary radiator 32 is low enough so that theaddition of two degrees of heat to the thermostat 34 will not cause theshort circuit to be made at the contact It will be apparent from theforegoing description that there has been provided a novel and usefulsystem for controlling the temperature of a railway car in such afashion that the temperature will be maintained nearly uniformirrespective of the condition of the ambient or the movement of the carin said ambient. It will be noted that the overhead blower and thecirculating pump are operable at all times to make use of the reservoirof heat contained within the intermittently operated heater and torecirculate the air within the car at all times. By the use of theauxiliary thermostats and the auxiliary relays controlled thereby forthe control of the auxiliary radiators on the forward end of the car, itis possible to obtain additional radiation at such points irrespectiveof whether the intermittent heater is being operated or not, since theauxiliary thermostats 3| and 34 may call for additional heat to beradiated from the radiator system and the heater l1. It will be notedthat the burner 54 and its blowers 62 will be operated only when thewater in the system has reached a lower operating level, normally 160,and when the main thermostat is calling for heat as measured by a fallin temperature measured in the return line of the air duct 41. It isobvious, therefore, that the auxiliary radiators 28 and 32 may beemployed to give additional heat radiation at the forward end of the carwhen the temperature thereat has fallen below a desired level, whichadditional radiation would be reflected into the temperature of therecirculated air as measured at the return end of the overhead duct 4|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by the practice of the inventionas disclosed herein it is possible to maintain the temperature of thecar at a desired level as determined by the operation of auxiliaryradiators which are called upon to operate to correct for lowtemperatures obtaining at the several points in the car, at the sametime making it unnecessary to operate the heater in accordance with thedemand as might be made by the several auxiliary radiators.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited interms of the embodiment shown nor otherwise than by the claims hereappended.

We claim:

1. A heating system for heating an enclosed space comprising a closedcirculating system for a heating medium comprising an intermittentlyoperated heater, a plurality of main heat radiators connected in serieswith each other and with said heater and adapted to deliver heat intosaid space, means for circulating heating medium through said heater andmain radiators, electrically energized means including a thermostatresponsive to the temperature of the enclosed space as a whole forcontrolling the operation of said heater, auxiliary radiators connectedin parallel with said main radiators for augmenting the delivery of heatat predetermined locations in said space, and electrical circuit meansincluding a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the area of thespace served by said auxiliary heaters for controlling the operationthereof.

2. A heating system for heating an enclosed space comprising a closedcirculating system for a heating medium comprising an intermittentlyoperated heater, a plurality of main heat radiators connected in serieswith each other and with said heater and adapted to deliver heat intothe upper and lower regions of said space, means for circulating heatingmedium through said heater and main radiators, electrically energizedmeans including a thermostat responsive to the temperature of theenclosed space and a device responsive to predetermined lower and uppertemperature limits of the heating medium for controlling the operationof said heater, auxiliary radiators connected in parallel with said mainradiators for augmenting the delivery of heat at predetermined locationsin said space, and electrical circuit means including a separatethermostat for each auxiliary heater responsive to the temperature ofthe area of the space served by its associated auxiliary heater forcontrolling the operation thereof.

3. A heating system for heating an enclosed space comprising a closedcirculating system for a heating medium comprising an intermittentlyoperated heater, a plurality of main heat radiators connected in serieswith each other and with said heater and adapted to deliver heat intothe upper and lower regions of said space, means for circulating heatingmedium through said heater and main radiators, electrically energizedmeans including a thermostat responsive to the temperature of theenclosed space and a relay controlled thereby for controlling theoperation of the heater in relation to the general temperature of theenclosed space, a circuit making and breaking device interposed inelectrical circuits connected through said relay and responsive topredetermined minimum and maximum temperatures of the heating medium forcontrolling the operation of said heater when the said thermostatremains unsatisfied, at least one auxiliary radiator connected in saidclosed circulating system in parallel with a main radiator foraugmenting the delivery of heat into the lower region of said space at apredetermined location, and electrical circuit means including athermostat responsive to the temperature of the area of said spaceserved by such auxiliary radiator for controlling the operation thereof.

4. A heating system for heating an enclosed space comprising a closedcirculating system for a heating medium comprising an intermittentlyoperated heater, a plurality of main heat radiators connected in serieswith each other and with said heater and adapted to deliver heat intothe upper and lower regions of said space, means for circulating heatingmedium through said heater and main radiators, electrically energizedmeans including a thermostat responsive to the temperature of theenclosed space and a relay controlled thereby for controlling theoperation of the heater in relation to the general temperature of theenclosed space, a circuit making and breaking device interposed inelectrical circuits connected through said relay and responsive topredetermined minimum and maximum temperatures of the heating medium forcontrolling the operation of said heater when the said thermostatremains unsatisfied, a plurality of auxiliary radiators connected insaid closed circulating system in parallel with the main radiators foraugmenting the delivery of heat into the lower region of the space atpredetermined locations, and electrical circuit means including separate9 thermostats responsive to the temperatures of the separate areas ofsaid space served by the auxiliary radiators associated therewith forcontrolling the operation of said auxiliary radiator.

5. A heating system for heating an enclosed space comprising a closedcirculating system for a heating medium comprising an intermittentlyoperated heater, a plurality of main heat radiators connected in serieswith each other and with, said heater and adapted to deliver heat intothe upper and lower regions of said space, means for circulating heatingmedium through said heater and main raditors, an air duct and blowerassociated with a radiator positioned first in line to receive theheating medium from said heater, whereby the medium of maximum heat isutilized to heat re-circulated air delivered into the upper region ofthe enclosed space, electrically energized means including a thermostatresponsive to the temperature of the air returned to said duct forcontrolling the operation of said air heater, and auxiliary radiatorsconnected in parallel with other main radiators for augmenting thedelivery of heat into the lower region and at predetermined locationswithin said enclosed space, and electrically energized means for theauxiliary radiators responsive to the temperature of the space in theregion of such auxiliary radiators for making them eiTective andineiiective in the heating system.

6. A heating system for heating an enclosed space comrising a closedcirculating system for a, heating medium comprising an intermittentlyoperated heater, a plurality of main heat radiators connected in serieswith each other and with said heater and adapted to deliver heat intothe upper and lower regions of said space, means for circulating heatingmedium through said heater and main radiators, an air duct and blowerassociated with a radiator positioned first in line to receive theheating medium from said heater, whereby the medium of maximum heat isutilized to heat re-circulated air delivered into the upper region ofthe enclosed space, electrically energized means including a thermostatand a relay controlled thereby and responsive to the temperature of theair returned to said duct for controlling the operation of said heater,a circuit making and breaking device interposed in control circuitsconnected through said relay and responsive to a predetermined minimumtemperature of the heating medium to cooperate with said relay to closean energizing circuit for said heater and adapted to open the lastmentioned circuit in response to a predetermined maximum temperature ofthe heating medium, and auxiliary radiators connected in parallel withsaid main radiators for augmenting the delivery of heat at predeterminedlocations within said enclosed space, and electrically energized meansfor the auxiliary radiators responsive to the temperature of the spacein the region of such auxiliary radiators for making them effective andineiiective in the heating system.

7. In a heating control system for an enclosed space such as a railwaycar or the like having main radiators connected in a closed circuit forsupplying heat to said enclosed space, a pair of auxiliary radiatorsconnected in said closed circuit, said auxiliary radiators being locatedone on either side of said enclosed space adjacent one end thereof,means for circulating heating fluid in said radiators, a duct forrecirculating air which has been heated by said radiators, a heater forsaid fluid including an intermittently operated burner, circuit meansincluding a thermostat connected in said circuit means and positioned ata point remote from said auxiliary radiators and operable in response tothe temperature of the returned air to said duct for controlling theoperation of said intermittently operated burner.

LAURANCE H. GILLICK. TIMOTHY J. LEHANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,505 Bottsford May 19, 18911,973,842 Broderick Sept. 18, 1934 2,159,284 Miller May 23, 19392,240,731 Van Vulpen May 6, 1941

